Fears for ‘security of Jews worldwide’ in wake of Elon Musk AfD speech

Top US Jewish advocate Halie Soifer calls Trump adviser’s address to far-right Germany rally ‘incredibly dangerous’ Elon Musk’s remarks to a German far-right party that Germans should not focus on their country’s Nazi past should prompt “deep concern” about “the security of American Jews” and “of Jews worldwide”, a leading US Jewish advocate has told the Guardian. “Speaking as a deeply concerned American Jew,” said Halie Soifer, chief executive of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), “I am deeply concerned about the security of American Jews, of Jews worldwide, given our president’s clear alignment with dangerous rightwing extremists.” Musk, the owner of Tesla, SpaceX and X and the world’s richest person, donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Donald Trump’s campaign and is now a close adviser with an office in the White House complex. In a video address to the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party on Friday, Musk said it was “good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything”; said “children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great-grandparents”; and said there was “too much focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that”. He also gave two fascist-style salutes last week, during a speech at Trump’s inauguration. Soifer’s response comes after world leaders marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz, in Poland. (…) Soifer said it was imperative opponents of Trump and Musk continue to condemn extremist behavior and language, because “words and signaling have dangerous consequences and Trump and his allies, including Elon Musk, are giving a green light to extremists. “It’s important that that American voters, especially those who may have supported Donald Trump, open their eyes and see what’s right in front of them. He said he would be a dictator on day one, and for once he is making good on his promise.” On Monday evening, Soifer noted that Trump had then not issued a statement marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, a step he took each year in his first term, though in 2017 he caused controversy when his statement did not mention Jewish people. “Donald Trump is taking Elon’s advice to ‘move beyond’ the Holocaust,” Soifer said in a post on social media. “It’s (the end of) Holocaust Remembrance Day and Trump hasn’t said a word about it. But he did pardon the ‘Camp Auschwitz’ insurrectionist just in time for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.” That was a reference to Robert Keith Packer, now 59, who was sentenced to 75 days in prison for his part in the Capitol attack, during which he was photographed wearing a hoodie with “Camp Auschwitz” printed on the front.

via guardian: Fears for ‘security of Jews worldwide’ in wake of Elon Musk AfD speech

Berliner AfD-Politiker sorgt am Holocaust-Gedenktag für Eklat

Der AfD-Abgeordnete Marc Vallendar sorgte am Montag mit einer Aussage zum Holocaust für einen Eklat im Innenausschuss des Abgeordnetenhauses. Während einer Debatte darüber, wie sich das Land Berlin zu einem Verbot der AfD positioniert, sorgte der AfD-Abgeordnete Marc Vallendar am Montag im Innenausschuss des Abgeordnetenhauses für einen Eklat. „Es mag sein, dass es Kriegsverbrechen gegeben hat“, sagte der Politiker in Hinblick auf den Holocaust. Mitglieder der anderen Parteien warfen Vallendar daraufhin vor, die NS-Kriegsverbrechen zu relativieren. „Hier im Ausschuss relativiert ein Abgeordneter den Mord an sechs Millionen Juden“, sagte etwa der innenpolitische Sprecher der Grünen-Fraktion Vasili Franco. Er sei „fassungslos“. (…) Der 27. Januar ist der internationale Holocaust-Gedenktag. An diesem Tag vor genau 80 Jahren wurde das Konzentrationslager Auschwitz befreit. „Es hat Kriegsverbrechen gegeben“, sagte Vallendar schließlich. Er habe das Gedenken an die Opfer nicht schmälern wollen. Empörung kam auch aus den anderen Fraktionen. „Ich bin schockiert, was hier wieder sagbar ist“, sagte der SPD-Abgeordnete Orkan Özdemir. „Das ist gutes Material für die Verfassungsschutzämter.“

via morgenpost: Berliner AfD-Politiker sorgt am Holocaust-Gedenktag für Eklat

#2701 #weremember


„Die Forderung, daß Auschwitz nicht noch einmal sei, ist die allererste an Erziehung. Sie geht so sehr jeglicher anderen voran, daß ich weder glaube, sie begründen zu müssen noch zu sollen.“

#auschwitz #neveragain #neverforget #weremember

Zu Gast bei AfD-Veranstaltung Musk mischt erneut im deutschen Wahlkampf mit – #holocaustrelativierung

Auf Elon Musk kann sich die AfD verlassen: Nach seinem Gespräch mit Parteichefin Weidel auf seiner Plattform X hat sich der Tech-Milliardär nun auch live zum Wahlkampfauftakt der Partei dazugeschaltet. Wenige Wochen vor der Bundestagswahl mischt Tech-Milliardär Elon Musk erneut im deutschen Wahlkampf mit. Bei einem Gastauftritt auf einer Wahlkampfveranstaltung der AfD bekräftigte Musk seine Unterstützung für die Partei. Zu Beginn der Rede von AfD-Chefin Alice Weidel wurde der Trump-Berater und Tesla-Chef live aus den USA zugeschaltet. Die AfD sei die beste Hoffnung für Deutschland, sagte er. “Kämpft für eine großartige Zukunft für Deutschland”, sagte Musk unter dem Jubel der nach Parteiangaben etwa 4.500 AfD-Anhänger in der Messe in Halle (Saale). Wie Musk sich in den Wahlkampf einmischt Elon Musk macht keinen Hehl daraus, dass er die AfD im Wahlkampf unterstützt. mehr AfD hat Musks volle Unterstützung Der Unternehmer beklagte zudem, es gebe “zu viel Fokus auf vergangener Schuld”, man müsse das hinter sich lassen. Kinder sollten nicht schuldig für die Sünden ihrer Urgroßeltern sein, sagte er und rief zu Optimismus auf. “Es ist sehr wichtig, dass die Menschen in Deutschland stolz darauf sind, Deutsche zu sein”, so Musk.Die AfD habe seine volle Unterstützung und – so glaube er – auch die Unterstützung der Trump-Regierung. Weidel bedankte sich mit besten Wünschen für die US-Regierung unter Präsident Donald Trump und dessen Wahlspruch “Make America great again”. Sie fügte später ein “Make Germany great again” hinzu.

via tagesschau: Zu Gast bei AfD-Veranstaltung Musk mischt erneut im deutschen Wahlkampf mit

siehe auch: Holocaust-Gedenkstätte kritisiert Musk: Tech-Milliardär beklagt bei AfD-Veranstaltung „Fokus auf vergangener Schuld“ Elon Musk hat sich mit seinen Sympathiebekundungen für die AfD bereits in den deutschen Wahlkampf eingemischt. Jetzt ist er noch einen Schritt weiter gegangen. Der Trump-Unterstützer auf dem großen Bildschirm einer deutschen Wahlkampfveranstaltung: Vier Wochen vor der Bundestagswahl hat Tech-Milliardär Elon Musk erneut für die AfD geworben. Beim offiziellen Wahlkampfauftakt der rechtspopulistischen Partei in Halle (Saale) am Samstag wurde der Tesla-Chef zu Beginn der Rede von Parteichefin Alice Weidel live aus den USA zugeschaltet. „Es ist sehr wichtig, dass die Menschen in Deutschland stolz darauf sind, Deutsche zu sein“, sagte Musk. Die „deutsche Kultur“ gehe „tausende Jahre zurück“. Schon der römische Kaiser Julius Cäsar sei „beeindruckt“ gewesen vom Kampfeswillen der germanischen Stämme, sagte Musk weiter. Musk beklagt „Fokus auf vergangener Schuld“ Der Unternehmer beklagte, es gebe in Deutschland „zu viel Fokus auf vergangener Schuld.“ Man müsse das hinter sich lassen. Kinder sollten nicht schuldig für die Sünden ihrer Urgroßeltern sein, sagte er und rief zu Optimismus auf. Diese Sätze fielen kurz vor dem 27. Januar, dem Tag des Gedenkens an die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus. Rechtsextremisten diffamieren die Erinnerung an die Nazi-Verbrechen als Unterdrückung Deutschlands.

ai-generated

‘Propaganda arm’: TikTok search glitch stokes fear over Trump’s new alliance with tech titans – #censorship

Meanwhile, Meta users also reported election related search terms being blocked. Users on TikTok said they have been unable to access search results for terms including “Donald Trump rigged election” in the wake of the president’s inauguration yesterday. Instead, they were met with a sad robot face and a message reading “No results found.” Users were also warned that such phrases “may be associated with behavior or content that violates our guidelines.” The pop-up comes following negotiations to revive access to the app, which was briefly blocked this weekend as a ban loomed. Following the reinstatement, U.S. TikTok users were greeted with a message thanking President Donald Trump for his “efforts,” which included an executive order promising companies wouldn’t be punished for not enforcing the ban. And that left users speculating that the censorship of Trump-specific terms was tied to the app and the president’s new closeness.  On TikTok, one user posted a video of the “no results found” page for “Donald Trump Rigged Election,” captioning it: “And here we have it folks. Confirmation that TikTok has changed. Censorship at its finest. This should concern you whether you voted for him or not.” On X, one person pointed out the region-specific nature of this censorship, with U.K. TikTok accounts able to access “Donald Trump rigged election” search results. As TikTok users tried their own searches and were met with similar restrictions, they accused the app of becoming “Trump’s propaganda arm.” A TikTok spokesperson told the Daily Dot that no policy had been implemented and that given the difficulties in shutting off and restoring access to U.S. users, hiccups could occur in the app’s functions. But TikTok isn’t the only app that seemed to have political issues during the inauguration. On Instagram, users reported the hashtag #democrat was blocked. Unlike the alleged TikTok censorship, #Democrat was apparently censored for users beyond the U.S., with Instagramers in Indonesia and India also reporting search results that were blocked

via dailydot: ‘Propaganda arm’: TikTok search glitch stokes fear over Trump’s new alliance with tech titans

‘Discovered’ diaries of British socialite Unity Mitford reveal Hitler relationship

Diaries, believed to be genuine, chronicle 139 pre-war meetings between antisemitic aristocrat and Nazi leader. The diaries of an antisemitic British socialite who was obsessed with Adolf Hitler and struck up a personal relationship with the Nazi leader have been discovered, according to the Daily Mail. The leather-bound journals, which had been lost to historians and unseen for eight decades, appear to reveal the extent of Unity Mitford’s relationship with the dictator. (…) The diaries detail how the aristocrat harboured a fascination with Hitler and stalked him when she moved to Munich at the age of 20. The handwritten entries expose Unity – one of the well-known Mitford sisters – as a Nazi worshipper, sharing Hitler’s hatred of Jewish people.

via guardian: ‘Discovered’ diaries of British socialite Unity Mitford reveal Hitler relationship

siehe auch: Who was Adolf Hitler’s British socialite girlfriend? New diary pages expose their bizarre Nazi love story. Unity Mitford, a British aristocrat from one of England’s most notorious families, was a staunch fascist and an ardent admirer of Adolf Hitler. Known for her frequent interactions with the Nazi leader, Mitford documented her obsession in a diary that reveals her infatuation and chilling devotion. Recently rediscovered after 80 years, her diaries provide an unparalleled glimpse into her relationship with Hitler, making her one of the few Britons who knew him intimately, as reported by the Daily Mail. Unity Valkyrie Mitford, born on 8 August 1914 in London, was part of the infamous Mitford family, which became synonymous with eccentricity and controversy. Unity, the fourth of six siblings, often struggled to stand out among her more accomplished sisters. Her middle name, “Valkyrie,” and her conception in Swastika, Ontario, seemed almost prophetic given her future allegiance to Nazi ideology. Mitford’s fascination with Nazism began as a form of rebellion. To shock her family, she decorated her side of the bedroom with National Socialist propaganda while her sister Jessica, a communist, displayed posters of Vladimir Lenin. This act of defiance escalated when Unity moved to Germany in 1933, determined to meet Adolf Hitler.

Unity-Mitford.jpg
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Neo-Nazi vandals target historic Slovenian synagogue

The Maribor Synagogue, Slovenia’s smallest public cultural institution and a medieval-era Jewish heritage site, was defaced with antisemitic graffiti on Sunday night, the European Jewish Congress quoted synagogue director Boris Hajdinjak as saying. The vandals spray-painted messages such as “Jews are the evil of the world” and “Death to the Jews, Glory to Slovenia” on the national cultural monument. Law enforcement has initiated a dual investigation, treating the incident as both property damage of cultural importance and incitement to hatred. Perpetrators face possible prison sentences of up to five years for damaging cultural property, and an additional two years for incitement to violence or intolerance, according to the statement. Initial assessments estimate damage costs at €1,500 ($1,545). The European Jewish Congress believes that the perpetrators are neo-Nazis and said that this was not the first time the synagogue was attacked. The organization characterized the incident as part of an escalating pattern of antisemitic attacks targeting smaller Jewish communities across Europe. German Ambassador to Slovenia Sylvia Groneick and the embassy in issued a formal condemnation through embassy channels on Wednesday. The embassy emphasized that the synagogue plays a critical role in preserving Slovenian Jewish heritage.

via clevelandjewishnews: Neo-Nazi vandals target historic Slovenian synagogue

siehe auch: Antisemitizam u Sloveniji: Skandalozne poruke ispisane na sinagogi u Mariboru, reagovala i vlada u Ljubljani. Mariborska sinagoga, koja je pre nekoliko godina pretvorena u Jevrejski kulturni centar, tokom vikenda išarana je antisemitskim grafitima. U objavi Jevrejskog kulturnog centra na Fejsbuku navodi se da su nepoznata lica na zgradi sinagoge napisala “Jevreji su zlo sveta”, “Smrt Jevrejima, slava Sloveniji” i “Čitajte Talmud”. Kulturni centar je saopštio da je ožalošćen što se zgrada ponovo našla na meti vandala, prenosi STA. “Svo osoblje u mariborskoj sinagogi su Slovenci. O grafitima na našoj zgradi ne možemo da sudimo kao Jevreji, ali kao Slovenci oštro odbacujemo njihov sadržaj”, navodi se u objavi.

File:Synagogue Maribor.jpg
Von Sinagoga MariborEigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link